Largest US Grid Costs Rose $7.3 Billion Due to Data Centers

The article discusses the impact of the data center boom on the largest US power grid, which serves nearly a fifth of the American population. According to the article, the rising energy demands of data centers have added $7.3 billion in power-supply costs to the grid, leading to higher electricity bills for consumers in the Midwest and mid-Atlantic regions. The article highlights the growing energy consumption of data centers, which are critical infrastructure for the digital economy. As the number and size of data centers have increased, they have placed a significant strain on the power grid, leading to higher costs and potentially affecting the reliability of the electricity supply. The article suggests that the data center industry's impact on the power grid is a significant issue that policymakers and utility providers will need to address to ensure the grid's stability and affordability for consumers.